Friday, July 31, 2015

The nation's insatiable appetite for AMC's "The Walking Dead" will continue to terrify Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort when the most intense moments from season 5 of the critically-acclaimed, Emmy Award®-winning television series take a bite out of "Halloween Horror Nights," beginning Friday, September 18, 2015.

Attempts to evade the terror of the undead and the inhumane brutality of mankind will be the underlying theme of these mazes as guests navigate authentic three-dimensional recreations of one of television's most talked about shows, "The Walking Dead."

1986 cult classic film "TROLL" to be reprised as an animated film and television series titled "TROLL: The Rise of Harry Potter, Jr." John Carl Buechler, who penned and directed the original film has agreed to co-produce the full-length 3D animated feature along with Peter Davy.

Academy Award winner Patricia Arquette has been signed for the voice of the witch, and up and coming child actor Baxter Bartlett is slated to be the voice of young Harry Potter, Jr. Plans are underway to round out the remainder of the characters. Cast members in the original 1986 live-action feature included Noah Hathaway, as Harry Potter, Jr., along with Michael Moriarty, Shelley Hack, June Lockhart and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

BBC Worldwide North America and Fathom Events announce the return of the longest running sci-fi television series, Doctor Who, to the big screen for a two-night special theatrical event, Doctor Who: Dark Water/Death in Heaven in spectacular 3D, starring Peter Capaldi. Doctor Who: Dark Water/Death in Heaven, the show’s two-part eighth season finale, will be presented in RealD™ 3D and Dolby Atmos sound (where available) on September 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. (local time). The event will feature The Doctor’s Meditation - a special prequel scene to the first episode of season nine - and an exclusive interview with Doctor Who stars Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman, hosted by Wil Wheaton (Big Bang Theory, Star Trek: Nemesis), in addition to the two-part season eight finale.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Looks like Funko is about to get some serious competition! Ever look at a POP! vinyl figure and with it had a little more personality, a tiny bit more artistry and 100% more squishability? Kidrobot to the rescue.

We've still got a few new bits to show you from Sweet Suite 2015, so let's get into it! TOMY is a company we've only been playing closer attentions to...ohh...about the time they picked up the Pokemon license. From there, they grabbed Sonic and the rest is history. This year they've added Inside Out and Miles From Tomorrowland to their toy lineup, so there's lots for parents and fans alike to take notice of. TOMY's quality across the board is generally very high, so no bootleg looking plush being made here! All eyes will be looking in the same direction and limbs, while smaller on the big head plush, will not look like flippers. Standards. Let's check out the few items shown at Sweet Suite, some which were not shown at Toy Fair 2014, and some you'll notice they've moved from concept on into completion!

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films featuring Disney's Frozen Fever, starring Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar®-nominated Lorenzo (Best Animated Short, 2004). The Short Films Collection includes contemporary shorts starring classic characters, such as the groundbreaking 2013 Mickey Mouse cartoon, Get A Horse! And the holiday treat Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa, as well as celebrated Oscar winners Paperman (2012) and Feast (2014). Enjoy them together for the first time in this must-own collection with all-new extras including an inside look at the Disney Animation shorts, featuring introductions and interviews with the acclaimed filmmakers themselves.

Monday, July 27, 2015

At San Diego Comic-Con 2015, we saw more than a couple of new Hasbro Marvel Hero Mashers figures, those mix and build action figures with just enough styling to make them alllmost cartoony but not too ridiculous, and a depth of characters that attracts new die hard Marvel collectors daily. Today we'll take a peek at some official pics of upcoming Marvel Hero Masher figures..and like...drool and stuff...cuz that's what we do here.

In a film landscape crowded with folks struggling to re-create the magical formula that made The Avengers a success, I can always count on my favorite film festivals (like the 2015 Fantasia International Film Festival) to provide me with original stories set in unexpected places. To put it bluntly, if you've found yourself looking at the local cinema's movie lineup and moaned that you'll just wait for the next must-see blockbuster to come out, then start watching film fest lineups, make notes on what critics are saying are the strongest offerings and then watch for releases. With the phenomenal growth VOD and new DVD distribution outlets popping up every day, the chances of catching awesome indies is improving by the second! Foreign films can be counted among these newly accessible titles as well, and The Shamer's Daughter is the perfect example, with lush atmosphere, a not so warn-out landscape for film and an original thought that is well executed, all poised to grab your attention from the first minutes.

I'd heard rumors. While hunting down the Imaginext DC Super Friends Hall of DOOM and coming up short as the mythical creature seemed to only exist online and not on any shelf of any store anywhere, I expressed my frustrations to PR reps for Mattel who agreed I should get one to play with (which we did..and that should always be the answer to my frustrations) and then remarked "And the Hall of Justice is pretty awesome too!!" Wait...Hall of Justice? Upon returning home, I immediately took to the internet and found nothing....until 2 days ago!! Not only did we find awesome new pictures of the Imaginext Hall of Justice, but apparently, THERE ARE CARTOONS TO GO WITH THE WHOLE SERIES!! Prepare to waste your day in the best possible way...

Sunday, July 26, 2015

This Sunday, our newest favorite alcoholic returns to TV as SEASON 2 OF RICK AND MORTY BEGINS!!! This show is quickly gaining a legion of fans as the already addicted insist people they meet watch a short clip everywhere I go, leading to further addiction. This is Cartoon Meth, my friends, so be warned. WARNING: I'm about to recap the season 1 finale, so stop reading if you don't want it semi-spoiled.

Saturday, July 25, 2015

You hear whispers in the dark. Hordes of mothers laying in wait for toy stores to open in the early morning hours. As the doors slide open, they rush forward, demanding little figures of inanimate objects and food items all given mock-life with eyes and mouths. Why they lust after these tiny objects, I may never know. I was first introduced to the lifeforms known as Shopkins from a friend who announced she had acquired a tiny plastic roll of toilet paper. She remarked "He seemed content". I had to agree. Now at Sweet Suite 2015, I came face to face with an army of the tiny creatures. Condiments sneered. Snack foods gave me the side-eye. An adorable little onion seemed concerned. I suspected the nearby shoes were bullying her. My Moose Toys reps assured me the Shopkins were all free-range and living happy, full lives. I had to take them at their word. They gave me a pack and sent me on my way with info on their newest products, including more Shopkins to lust after. I have not opened my Shopkins...it seems...too dangerous. Can't risk it. Here's the info though...

Amid the brand new toys found at every station at Sweet Suite 2015 was a veritable oasis of large flat screens where Skylanders danced...and blasted each other to kingdom come. Skylanders Superchargers, in the spirit of the future where the world is 100% inclusive and not racist against little italian plumbers, barrel flinging gorillas and Gamora-esque lizards with anger issues, has opened their doors to the wayward orphans of Nintendo, providing a new home for those downtrodden, scruffy underdogs. HOW CHARITABLE OF THEM!! Like any good nation protecting their borders, the Skylanders nation is only letting two Nitendonians into their new game. We'll see how it goes. Maybe some people will like it? We'll take a look at the new Superchargers game figures while we recap the finer points of the game for the n00bs.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Back into Sweet Suite 2015 where we swam through a sea of Fall's greatest toy offerings. Hasbro was on hand, giving us a closer look at those awesome My Little Pony figure and environment sets, a giant Bumblebee Transformer (that actually transforms) from Robots in Disguise and some of the more kid friendly dolls and plastic beasties they don't take to San Diego Comic-Con. Let's take a look at all the new toys...

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Emilie Noetzel launches into her second day of the 2015 Fantasia International Film Festival ...

I started my second day in Montreal with a long walk down Sherbrooke, McGill, and Ste-Catherine Street, from my hotel to Atwater metro station, slowly going about my day and taking photos of random things as I tend to do when left to own devices in any city. This was once my city, but I never used to take many photos around town, so I intend on correcting this. My obsession with lighting fixtures continues! I have taken far too many photos of them and will keep on doing so until I have ALL of them.

As a follow up to the epic Playmates Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fall Toy Lineup article we posted mere days ago from info and images gathered at Sweet Suite 2015, we've got way better official pics to back it all up! We'll note that all this dinosaur business in the Half Shell Heroes collection mirror a TMNT special airing on TV late November, early December, in the current cartoon style (so, as yet, no plans for Half Shell Heroes cartoons for the wee ones). We've got basic action figures, Battle Shell figures, Dimension X role play gear, Turtle to Weapon transforming figures, more Half Shell Heroes, T Machines and more! Let's get to it...

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

OK everyone, take out your checklist. Has Funko now tackled every awesome geeky thing in the pop culture universe and turned them into adorable Pop! Vinyl Figures? Hmm..nope..still some stuff missing. The A-Team...Buckaroo Banzai...Clash of the Titans...Darkwing Duck...yea still plenty of ground to cover. Cary On! Today, Funko gets that much closer to Geek-World domination with the reveal of Rocky Horror Picture Show Pop! figures. Oh man. There's a need. And it is a mighty need.

Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, and Get Schooled, a national non-profit co-founded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Viacom, are giving one skilled and innovative young animator the chance to win a $25,000 scholarship through the inaugural “What’s Your Nickfluence?” Animation Challenge. The open call for original animated shorts is open now through Sept. 14, 2015, and marks the first-ever animation scholarship program between the two organizations, which will help elevate and support the brightest up and coming animators by giving them an opportunity to submit their story.

Hot on the heels of Justice League: Gods and Monsters, releasing July 28th (Click HERE for a review from San Diego Comic-Con 2015!), and among a new series of somewhat kidified, straight to DVD Batman Unlimited adventures, comes Batman: Bad Blood, bringing together a larger Bat-Family to unravel the greatest mystery of all...WHERE IS BATMAN??!!

Her name is Rhapsody Artajo, and when she's not killing it in pin up style photo shoots...she's running around making videos as Ms Swan from MADtv..and generally making everyone she meets fall over laughing in the process. SHE'S JUST THAT AWESOME. You may have already caught a glimpse of Rhapsody in her now legendary San Diego Comic-Con 2015 video where she is followed by the SHAME Woman from Game of Thrones...but there's so much more Ms Swan shenanigans to enjoy. You weren't going to do any work right now anyway, were you? Didn't think so. LET'S WATCH!!

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

When monsters ruled the Marvel Universe, the wildly imaginative brain and pencil of Jack Kirby brought dozens upon dozens of these creatures to life. Monster comics may be a thing of the past, but Marvel is celebrating their legacy this October with over twenty-five KIRBY MONSTER VARIANTScoming to some of Marvel’s biggest new titles! Featuring some of the industry’s most legendary and iconic artists, witness the inimitable imagination of Jack Kirby brought to life by Geof Darrow, Paul Pope, Art Adams, Eric Powell, Simon Bisley, Cliff Chiang and many, many more!

“Before helping to create the Marvel Universe we all know and love, Kirby lent his genius to creating all manner of creatures for titles like Tales to Astonish, Journey Into Mystery, Strange Tales and more,” says Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso. “We’re beyond thrilled to celebrate him and bring these characters back to the fore this October for the KIRBY MONSTER VARIANT program.”

2015 has already been a banner year for Marvel Legends collectors who are finding it hard just to keep up with the relentless releases of 6 inch action figures, and at 22 dollars a pop in some places, I feel your pain! Marvel is my jam...and my jam requires 2 full time jobs to pay for it. Let's take a look at everything Hasbro showed off for the Mighty Marvel Universe, well into 2016...

Marvel Legends 2016 leads off with Captain America: Civil War. Red Skull Onslaught Build-A-Figure forms the center of this wave with a Classic Captain America (believe it or not, the first Classic Cap Hasbro has done according to pr reps), Mockingbird and Taskmaster. Taskmaster gets an alternate Udon head and Cap becomes CAP WOLF!! It's silly..it's ridiculous...it's Marvel. Yay. Hasbro reps teased that more Marvel Cinematic Universe (aka Movie stars) characters could show up under the Civil War banner, with Vision, Scarlet Witch and Falcon mentioned as possibilities.

Back into Sweet Suite 2015 coverage with our buddies at LEGO who hid some new bits in between the items that you can find in stores now. Not having an encyclopedic knowledge of LEGO, I just shot it all..which is generally my default anyway. When I don't shoot like that, I wind up passing over things that turn out to be brand new and then I beat myself up over it for the next two months. YAY OVERLY WORKED GUILT! I think we gave LEGO a fair showing this time around, so jump in below and check out everything that was on display, minus the Minifigures Series 14, which we already showed you in-depth.

On tap were the City Spaceport, some Star Wars bits, a set from Elves, a second look at the as-yet unreleasesed Scooby Doo Mystery Machine set, a new Minecraft set, a Bionicle piece, some Ninjago and a handful of things that I was 98% sure are out already. Check it...

Monday, July 20, 2015

At Toy Fair 2015, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy fans saw more than a couple of brand new action figures listed as "coming sooooon". Further teasing has come via new packaging art showing the likes of Napoleon Bonafrog, the Dream Beavers and more among the legions of characters featured on the back. Now Sweet Suite 2015 gives us a first hand look at some new products due out this Fall from Playmates Toys! This is going to be like Toy Fair part 2..so brace yourselves...

Sunday, July 19, 2015

With San Diego Comic-Con coverage still rolling out and Sweet Suite coverage piled on top of that, it must be time for the Fantasia International Film Festival!!! Emilie Noetzel returns to her home turf to take in some movies, visit some old friends and defeat the undead. Sure why not. Take it Emi...

I arrived in Montreal at an ungodly early hour, thanking my good luck for having a great friend willing to pick me up at a time I'd normally want to be seeing nothing but the insides of my eyelids. I haven't been to my hometown in 2 years, so I need to do many things and see many people while I'm here, but first, I'll recharge my social batteries with a friend and have some excellent food.

After a lengthy visit, I took care of a few things and took a 2 minutes nap. Oops, I mean 3+ hours nap. This lead to a mad rush to get to the Hall theater to go see "Deathgasm", a heavy metal horror film from New Zealand. Due to my accidental extended nap, there was no time for diner, so a small popcorn and a water bottle would have to tide me over. Once seated at the very last minute, I was ready to take it all in.

When is the last time you went to Build-A-Bear Workshop at your nearest mall? For me, it was when I was dating this awesome girl who's birthday was coming up. We made a monkey and put him in a pinstripe suit with matching top hat and cane..and called him Benny. If you get the reference, I love you. Since then, BAB has been adding many licensed characters to its adorbale plush lineup. A quick run through their website and I found Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon, all 4 of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a small herd of My Little Ponies and even Frosty the Snowman from the old holiday cartoon. At Sweet Suite, we got a glimpse of their latest additions...

STAR WARS!! Chewbacca and Darth Vader kick off Build-A-Bear's customizable plush offerings from a galaxy far, far away (cuz the mall is never close). Both include a sound chip for effects from each character and Vader comes with his Lightsaber that lights up. Light up plush confuses me...and I don't know why. These new squeezables will be available this week, so be on the lookout.

Hailey Mordah is one of our lead photographers, dropped in the thick of things to shoot those tiny little plastic people we obsess over all year. We never have to worry about pushing our "YOU MUST HAVE FUN" mandate on her, as she runs through Comic-Con like a 10 year seasoned vet and knows where all the good stuff will be, leaving time for ADVENTURE!! We dive into Hailey's San Diego Comic-Con 2015 Day 2 report with Teen Wolf sightings, cosplayer rescue and the SHAME woman who won Comic-Con in the eyes of all...

Friday was pretty exciting for me! (Even though I missed the Game of Thrones panel lol) A few of my highlights vary from my favorite cosplays to celebrity sightings to adventures after comic con.

For the die hard Marvel Studios fans who have a shiny briefcase sitting in the corner of their living room which houses the Tesseract...which, instead of being used to focus unspeakable power, bent to the will of its masters, is most likely holding down some papers on a nearby desk or worse, with no purpose, is sat upon a shelf, now addicted to Game of Thrones. Disney Home Video presents MARVEL PHASE 2....in one awesomely ridiculous set.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

I love when even our photographers get in on these daily reports from giant-sized conventions. On the floor of San Diego Comic-Con, 100 people can have COMPLETELY different experiences. Nicole Marrokal loves to shoot all the cosplayers she can, as well as hunting up the newest Dragonball Z, Sailor Moon and My Little Pony products, but she's also into video games. At SDCC, she can get hands on time with an impressive list of soon to be released games from a number of excellent companies, and today she brings lends some of her impressions of ...well...arguably the cuter games found on the show floor!

Mario Maker:
You can play as a newer looking Mario or the old school version. The press rep on hand said there would be some pre-made levels, but you'll primarily be playing in levels you make or others online have made.
I jumped into a fast level were you have 10 or 20 seconds left on the clock to finish. You have to run-jump just right to get the star and you barely make it to the end. It took me 3 tries because missing the star means you will not win, so you've got to start all over!

Friday, July 17, 2015

We dropped our friend Ben in the middle of San Diego Comic-Con for the first time in his whoooole life with a list of tasks both mundane and ridiculous and said GO GIT ADVENTURE! And so he did...and it was good. Here's what he got up to on day 2...

Sing me a song, you’re a singer. Do me a wrong, you’re a bringer of evil. The devil is never a maker. The less that you give, you’re a taker. So, it’s on and on and on, it’s Heaven and Hell.

As I approached the San Diego convention center for day two I felt something in air, something elusive… I wouldn’t quite call it a disturbance in the force but something was amiss. Traffic wasn’t too bad getting in as I arrived about an hour before the convention floor opened but I, of course, was not the only one. I parked at a local hotel (note for anyone who has never been to SDCC and may be thinking about attending next year, you have to pay for this parking well in advance, so get planning!) and then proceeded to brave the morning gauntlet of geeks and nerds. Foot traffic was pretty heavy, more so than the previous day, and I was nearly knocked down and bowled over by a daisy-chain of Christian malcontents.

Suite Sweet is quickly becoming one of my favorite events of the year! The upside; an ocean of toy companies on hand, most of which with product that can be found at retail, all with toys they are happy to demo for you. Though finding items among their displays that are NEW can be challenging, the all press atmosphere keeps everyone cheerful, even with a long day ahead. The downside; every 4th display is on a stand waaaay down on the floor...and I ain't gettin any younger. If you listen closely, you can hear my bones creaking today from all the bending and squatting to get you the toy pictures you DEMAND. And I do it...out of love. DON'T SPURN MY LOVES!! One thing I am absolutely sure of, all my friends are about to go insane over LEGO's all HALLOWEEN monster themed Minifigure wave...

Golden Globe® nominee Tatiana Maslany is back again (and again, and again) in BBC AMERICA’s groundbreaking original drama, Orphan Black: Season Three, on Blu-ray and DVD August 4, 2015. BBC Home Entertainment’s release features EXCLUSIVE content not available anywhere else, including behind-the-scenes crew interviews and a tour of the new rendition camp set.

After neutralizing the threat by the DYAD Institute and the ruthless clone Rachel (Maslany), Project Leda clones Sarah, Alison, Cosima and Helena, (Maslany) are finally all united in their journey towards the truth of who and what they are. But new discoveries that include Helena’s kidnapping, a book that could contain the answers to their existence, and the most shocking discovery of them all – a set of treacherous militaristic male clones (Ari Millen) with an unknown agenda – will test how tight their new bonds are.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Today, Marvel Comics takes a step forward toward encouraging more diversity among the voices which present the stories of our favorite heroes and villains on the paneled page...by mining black culture for comic book covers. ....Those wacky marvelites.

Expression and art form merge between Marvel Comics and the world of hip-hop with a unique line of HIP-HOP Variants covers inspired by some of the most iconic and well received hip-hop and rap albums of all time.

Accompanying each all-new #1 from Marvel Comics coming this fall, fans will get the chance to purchase their own Marvel Comics variant cover featuring their favorite Marvel characters paying homage to some of the most well-known and vocal musical artists over the past couple of years.

We sent Ben over to Hasbro to discover the wonders that come in 100 pastel colors in the worlds of My Little Pony. I asked how that went. He replied "I'm an Apple Jack man, I think." Good choice. Let's dive head first into the ocean of product Hasbro is putting out well into 2016...

So what can you tell me about what’s new in the world of My Little Pony?
Sure! Here are some of the things new we’re launching this year, this is our new Friendship is Magic collection that’s launching this fall it’s a great way for fans of all ages to engage with the brand in a whole new way. Its leveraging our 1 ½” scale figure and really brings to life the world of Equestria. So every season we’ll be launching a new location and we’re launching with Sweet Apple Acres this year, celebrating Apple Jack, the whole Apple family and friends. And as you buy across the line, across every price point, it enables you to recreate the whole world of Sweet Apple Acres.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

At San Diego Comic-Con last year, Mondo stepped up with an Iron Giant collectible figure that made the top of people's heads blow clean off. Brains....everywhere. This year, Mondo premiered their 1:6th scale Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a mega-artistic Godzilla statue, MADBALLS and more! This company is quickly becoming the one to watch among toy collectors and grown up geeks with a soft spot for 80's properties, so we sent Ben Delloiacono and Emilie Noetzel to spend some time with Creative Director for Toys/CollectibleBrock Otterbacher at Comic-Con 2015 to get all the details on their latest projects. Take it Ben!

...I'm not entirely sure if they are making fun of The Cure or just came up with a hysterical concept and said "Fuck it...WE RIDE!!" Whatever the case may be, Yo La Tengo's latest music video featuring a cover of The Cure's "Friday I'm In Love" is just a little slice of brilliance on a rainy Tuesday afternoon. With shocking, Japanese-horror levels of violence as backdrop to a completely ridiculous premise, this is a video you'll be showing all your friends by day's end. Watch it now!

Soooo many super hero movies...and so many that people are on the fence over. Listen...it's a comic book movie. You've got a 50/50 shot. If you love the characters, just go. We are investing entirely too much time trying to decide if we are going to watch a damn movie or not. Today, Fox's Fantastic Four reboot adds fuel to your debating fires and will most likely push a lot of you into the YES category! For me; I loved Chronicle, so Josh Trank is a safe bet as Director. I'm not crazy about the age of the team here, but that's Fox's thing now, so we just have to get over it. I'm also not over the moon with The Thing's design, but after watching this new trailer, it looks pretty damn good in action. Now DOOM on the other hand, I'll probably hate. This company finds it impossible to let this character be the unbelievably strong willed, arrogant, super intelligent and inexplicably powerful character he is in the comics. It should be a no brainer at this point. Iron Man rules, right? This is Iron Man with a somewhat evil twist and an entire nation of resources at his disposal. HOW COULD YOU NOT WANT THAT?! Anyway, the new trailer actually rocks, so let's jump in...

Monday, July 13, 2015

In comics, and more specifically, in the DC Universe, we are often allowed glimpses into alternate realities where our favorite heroes and villains' lives have taken a hard left turn, creating stories very different from the normal "battles in tights" fare. Batman fights Dracula and becomes a creature of the night. Superman is the hero of Mother Russia. When a legendary figure like Bruce Timm is behind the alternate reality, you know you are in for something AWESOME!

Gods and Monsters begins by warping the origin stories, and even the identities, of three core Justice League members; Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Superman is now the biological son of Zod, raised by Mexican immigrants with a far different upbringing than the core character we know well, changing his entire perspective on humanity. Wonder Woman calls herself daughter to those we know as the New Gods. Betrayed and heartbroken, she took her rage to Earth, set on never letting another being hurt her again. Batman is Kurt Langstrom (our Earth's Manbat!), a brilliant scientist living on borrowed time. A cure for his fatal illness leads to a vampire-like transformation giving him super human powers, and a taste for blood. Now all three stride the world like gods, exacting terminal justice with a heavy hand while taking the lead from a government enjoying the power these individuals grant them. With a public at once grateful for their heroes and in fear of the death these creatures bring, it is only a matter of time before humanity must decide if they are willing to pay the price of perceived safety. And if they no longer wish to live under the protection of their "heroes", is there really an alternative?

You strained your eyes. The little blueish black and white box jumped around and under your breathe, you wish the damn camera operator would sit the hell still and provide a clean shot. You strained to decipher the muffled words spoken by DC's most unlikely heroes. Ultimately, you got what you could from a vid shot seemingly from someone's lap in the middle of San Diego Comic-Con 2015, dodging security and knowing full well they were acting against the wishes of the movie company present in that hall, at that moment. For shame. Now, Warner Bros. answers your cries for ACTUAL clarity (because..seriously..that vid was damn horrible) and releases the Suicide Squad trailer in glowing, eye melting HD. BEHOLD....the new Joker speaks...

While running through the battlefield known as San Diego Comic-Con, the brave crew of 4 Idle Hands reporters see many odd things. Since they predominantly shoot collectibles and cosplayers, they are in the thick of it for the entire show with no leisurely breaks in air conditioned panels or prolonged stops at charging stations inside posh lounges where free food and drink are available. My crew are soldiers. This is WARCON!! While there is no way around the fight that is shooting tiny little action figures surrounded by mobs of fans, we usually don't have a bad time when photographing cosplayers, no matter how little our costumed friends get to move across the floor as they are assaulted with odd requests, inappropriate "jokes", the random grope and long, creepy, lingering looks into their boob windows. These are generally happy people who work hard on their costumes and enjoy showing them off. Sure, there are rude folks who hear your request plain as day, regard you and turn away as if you are not cool enough to capture their image, but that's life. Every group has jerks. What we didn't expect this year was a number of cosplayers trying to make some quick cash amid the Comic-Con frenzy.

The Fantasia International Film Festival is about to throttle the city of Montreal for its 19th edition from July 14 – August 4, 2015. Over the festival’s three-week run, 135 features will be unveiled, along with nearly 300 short films, an eclectic kaleidoscope of fantastic visions from 36 countries, many showing for the first time in this part of the world – and a good number screening for the first time anywhere!

We've got the North American Premiere of Keiichi Hara's MISS HOKUSAI lined up for our Opening Night film and closing the festival will be the Canadian Premiere of Shinji Higuchi's massively-anticipated live-action ATTACK ON TITAN (!!!). We've also got the World Premieres of Paz Brothers' JERUZALEM, bloody Indian horror LUDO, David Arquette-starring ORION, and the seasonably festive TALES OF HALLOWEEN and A CHRISTMAS HORROR STORY. In total we've got 22 World Premieres in our program of 137 feature films. We'll also be hosting the first-ever international edition of director Larry Fessenden's buzzed-about live radio drama, Tales from Beyond the Pale, Canadian Premiere of COP CAR with actor Kevin Bacon and director Jon Watts in attendance, and new dynamic panels. Click HERE for the full lineup of films, events, ticket info and more!

The festival has already announced roughly 75% of its film lineup across two previous waves of press releases, and today, is pleased to reveal the rest of what’s in store – including more films, live events, our full celebrity guest list, and the full details on the 2015 Frontières Industry Rendez-Vous!

Saturday, July 11, 2015

You've all been on the fence about this movie. Well...maybe that's generous. A lot of you resoundingly shouted "IT SUCKS!" and have continued to shout it every day since the teaser trailer was "leaked" to the internets. I've been keeping my expectations low. Very low. I even waited in line for 2 hours to watch the same teaser you all viewed from the comfort of your own homes, on the offchance Zack Snyder was going to show us ...just a little more. Indeed..there was a tiny bit more, but two guys in super hero costumes charging each other didn't go a long way to ease my mind. This latest trailer....it's working on me!

Today, IDW Games announced a big box Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adventure game complete with sculpted miniatures that is going to shell shock gamers. Debuting in early 2016, the game will let players step into the roles of their favorite Turtle or ultimate villain, Shredder. Designed by Kevin Wilson with input from IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles creative team, franchise co-creator Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow, and Tom Waltz, the game will be available in a standard and special limited-edition format, featuring artwork by Eastman.

“I'm so excited to participate in this game!” said TMNT co-creator, Kevin Eastman. “Working with IDW on their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics has been amazing, and now to get the chance to go even deeper into the story and have fans play out key moments from the series for themselves is something that's really going to blow people away."

Can we talk about the season finale yet? Yea? OK. WTF. I'm hearing all this crazy junk about Jon Snow riding a dragon into battle beside his sister Khaleesi...and perhaps Tyrion follows close behind on the back of a giant. INSANITY! Despite the rumors, this last season ended in with one of your favorite characters expiring unceremoniously in a pool of his own blood and we are left with more questions than answers. Let's jump into Hall H with the cast of Game of Thrones and see if they'll let loose any clues as to how next season will pan out!

As if we didn't expect this. Star Wars took Hall H by storm yesterday and DOMINATED as cast from The Force Awakens took the stage, including three heroes near and dear to our hearts; Hal Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker. ...I know they are real people..but shut up. It's Comic-Con.

Fans at San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H were treated to a special look behind the scenes of Star Wars:The Force Awakens by director J.J. Abrams, producer and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and writer Lawrence Kasdan. The filmmakers were joined on stage by cast members Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford to the surprise and delight of fans.

While I am no stranger to a good Con (I’ve always been fond of calling them “Nerd Proms”) this is my first at the now infamous San Diego Comic Con. My expectations: I was told it’s four times the size of NYCC. It’s crazy. It’s packed. So, it’s larger. Big deal. So, there are lots of people. Bring it. Bring me your Vaders and Hobbits, your huddled Disney princesses, yearning to be free!

Here’s something I learned early on: if you plan on attending SDCC don’t tell anyone. Keep it secret. Keep it safe. Otherwise you’ll receive emails, private messages, posts, calls, and texts from everyone you’ve ever met asking you to pick them up “this special thing” or “bring me back something for my kids.” To those of you doing the asking, here’s what you need to know: most of the stuff on sale at SDCC you can already get online or wherever, and the “special” stuff sells out rather quickly. To my friends reading this: dude, I totally looked and that place and that thing you wanted was totally sold out. It’s true.

San Diego Comic-Con is a brutal, brutal show. Our reporters brave the very heart of darkness -the show floor- daily to bring back a billion pictures of all the toys you will drool over for the next year...and what do they get for their troubles? Crippling nightmares that lead them to horrifically stab themselves repeatedly and murderous impulses that can't be denied. Here's Emilie Noetzel and Ben Delloiacono in their final moments on this good Earth. They died doing what they love.

While Hailey is no stranger to San Diego Comic-Con, she's clearly been whipped into a nerd-frenzy this year! Wish all the insanity surrounding Star Wars and Batman V Superman, who could blame her! Now we get an alternate perspective from Nicole Marrokal, a photographer known to dress up and blend right in with the cosplayers around her. Nicole is not a regular writer, so we've got the highlights of her activities, in her own words...

Well let's see I fought and won with my new wig and this year I have a parking spot across the street from the convention center so I drove and that was interesting. I used my friend's parking spot. Her dog was the one who took a picture with Conan.

We here at Idle Hands like to encourage all of our staff to actually enjoy the cons they go to, thus creating mini adventures, if possible. San Diego Comic-Con is no different, and you might say that extra bit of fun is essential, as this massive event will chew you up and spit you out if you take it too seriously! For nearly 5 years in a row, I shot pictures from the second the doors opened til they kicked us off the show floor on Sunday night. You know what I got for taking 14 thousand pictures that year? TOTAL OBSCURITY! ..But I am king of my home where my Ice Bat couch pillows love me, and that's what's important. Let's spend a little time with Hailey Mordah, one of out excellent photographers, and see how her Day 1 went...

Friday, July 10, 2015

It's Ben Delloiacono's first San Diego Comic-Con, and with me playing Oracle in NJ and my two excellent photographers working real jobs, he was left on his own to brave the crowds at the most chaotic geek gathering on the planet. Brave man! PEOPLE WERE PUNCHING EACH OTHER AT THE HASBRO BOOTH OVER STAR WARS FIGURES!!! It's insane over there! Taking a break from the hazardous show floor, Ben ducked into the JAKKS Pacific collector panel to see what's going down with their World of Nintendo, Warcraft and big figure lines...

Yes, Timmy, there are other things going on in the world beyond San Diego Comic-Con! Hard to believe, but true. New York Asian Film Festival has just wrapped (reviews on the way) and Fantasia is just about to begin (coverage incoming!), and on the other side of the world in the opposite time zone, our newest reporter Wendy Epstein is banging out her coverage of the Tokyo Toy Show, complete with a TON of pics sure to make you cry tears of joy...but like they do in Anime with the wavy lines. Let's get this show started with a Mahou Shoujo Lovefest!! Take it Wendy...

Reporting live from Tokyo, 'tis I, your Idle Hands guide to the highlights of Tokyo Toy Show 2015!

First, a bit of background on the show: Tokyo Toy Show is held annually at the Tokyo Big Sight International Exhibition Center (the same venue as Comiket) in late June. With two industry-only days and two days open to the public, it serves as a stage for companies to show off their current product line and introduce the world to their summer/fall quarter additions live and in person.

Idle Hands strives for very little overhead, but we still run into expenses when covering the events you love, keeping our gear up to snuff and the basics ...like feeding ourselves. It's your contributions that help keep us running, so if you love what you read here and you want to see more of it, please chip in!